Just great, Why is our city council so two-faced?

They say they are trying to promote the creation of jobs, then turn around and convert all the industrial space into housing. What kind of jobs are they creating?....burger flippers?

I'm a life-long machinist and have been for decades. Mountain View once had many machine shops. Today they are all gone, except for one specialty engine shop I know of.

Tell me,...where exactly is someone suppose to set-up a shop and create new MANUFACTURING jobs, now that M.V. is destroying all suitable sites zoned for such uses? Reducing the number of industrial sites drives up rental costs of those remaining sites, driving away potential employers in turn.


So blind.

I find it hard to believe that the voice of Mountain View, as expressed by our City council, adequately represents us anymore. Who among us actually prepares for a move, 25 years before it happens? To say that Simon had 25 years to make changes is ludicrous. To scold them is even worse.

How are jobs created by building more housing, beyond the temporary employment of construction workers. Where is sustainability in that use of the land? A print shop that is still in operation, Heidelberg presses and all, is a resource that gives back to the businesses and community a service of craft and beauty.

How much longer can we afford to be so hypocritical about our ideas of sustainability with the land, and with the resources we have, by turning another quick profit for the housing industry. What will be there in 25 years?

I posted this comment with the news story. Looks like I'm not alone in my view.
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I can't understand why the council would not give this firm the time that they need, which will impact no one else.

Don't they understand that no sane person expects a 25 year old timetable drawn by long forgotten councilors to proceed like clockwork, or even proceed at all? Who would bother to plan for relocation in such circumstances. In the end, when they get around to environmental impact studies, there will probably be years and years of industrial pollution to contend with, and a better use of this land might be to leave things as they are.

I'm a retired computer professional and I've never had anything to do with small business or printing, and I've never used this firm's services or know anyone who has. I had to look up the location on the map, and I certainly don't have a dog in this fight.

This is a matter of simple common sense and good will, and a certain revulsion at the lack of reasonable judgment that such "zero tolerance" responses demonstrate.

Shame on councilors Means and Abe-Koga for being so literal and small minded. What in the world are such by-the-book people doing in city givernment?

The solution is simple. Lay off the employees and close down the small business that's been going for 52 years. Raze the business and build apartments for Googlers hired from overseas. Ship the printing operation overseas where the labor is cheap. The laid off employees can pick up work at the Day Worker Center. Am I missing anything here?

In the meantime, Means should try getting a job in the private sector before preaching to a business with a payroll.

for a council member to say that someone had 25 years to find a place to move is absolutely ridiculous -- we've already lost Goodco Press who was wonderful at doing small print jobs for artists, must we lose another family business. Do you really need more apts and condos that will be too expensive to rent or sell in this economy? the council that do not support small businesses should be fired/recalled because they do not have the community's interest at heart -- sounds like a big under the table payoff to me. Destroying this and other small businesses is like destroying alot of other people's livlihoods. Build that crap someplace else and leave these busineses in peace.

I remeber that fuss that happened in Palo Alto in the 80s, the rezoning took place in the 60s. Maybe it is time to create space for business and future housing needs and not just for tech and theit workers

The idiots running this town are determined to put all of the eggs in one basket. They don't see the resemblance between Mountain View, 2011, and Flint, Michigan, 1964.

San Jose is tomorrow's Detroit. China is going to pull the rug out from under this entire valley.

First of all, some of the council members should cease and desist with their color commentary (specifically Tom Means). It has no place in the meetings.

Second, if even the DEVELOPER doesn't see any harm in it, why is it a big deal to give Simon Printing and any other of the businesses the extra time? Why have empty buildings for 18 months instead of letting the businesses continue and earn a little bit of sales tax for the city.

2012 city council election should be interesting.

This rezoning took place in 1986, I doubt very like the council today, was the same council back then. Did they have a magic ball to look into which they saw Google and Facebook. 1986, Moffett Field was still open. We still need away to provide places for businesses (non-tech), retail, and housing.

I quite agree that giving the 18 months, which even the developers say will not impact them, is the right thing to do. This business is a perfect example of what Mountain View needs. Things have changed a lot since 1986.

I don't see the harm in giving this business some extra time to leave. It sounds like they are going to have to fold if business doesn't pick up, so they want the extra time to see if that happens, and the buildings would be empty anyway. It sounds like a no-brainer to me.

I was nearby so I took a walk around Mora Drive. I can think of a few suggestions to accommodate everyone (or almost everyone):

1) Mixed-use zoning. This doesn't have to be either-or. Allow both commercial properties and residential properties to be adjacent, the way things used to be before Euclidean zoning. There are already homes on either side of Mora Drive, there is no reason why the businesses on Mora Drive cannot share that street with homes as well.

2) The street is too wide. You could easily park 6 cars side by side. Since it is a dead end, this capacity will never be used. There is no reason for the street to be so wide -- it just represents a pure waste of space and lost opportunity cost for the city.

3) It's a dead-end. There are a few places where connections should be made -- for pedestrians at least. Just a small fence separates Mora Drive from the Towne Circle walkway. Even better, a way could be found to connect College and Mora -- making a walking cut-off to Rengstorff.

4) Multi-story buildings: commercial on first floor, residential above. These have the potential to be more affordable as well.

Hopefully, some of these ideas could be used to bring both jobs and affordable housing to this part of MV. One possible way to help current businesses survive during the transition would be to take the narrowed Mora Drive, and add some small cross streets that connect the existing properties. Initially, development can take place on parcels that have been freshly carved out by this new street layout. A number of years later, there will be available commercial space for businesses to move into, and then they could consider renovating or redeveloping the old sites.

Matthew you have the right ideas, we need to look at more creative ways, mixed use zoning is the best. We need to think beyond the single use, large parking lot with small building. We need to think height, density. I am not saying we need high rises, bnut something that will cater to the plumbers, machine shops, printers and landscaping firms, and other service non auto repair shops